Where the Wild Things Are: Vol. 1, Ed. 1
Brandi D. Addison
Journalist in West Texas l Adjunct Faculty at Texas Tech l Writer
Howdy!
I know what you're thinking, and?I understand if you're skeptical. After all, I have not been the most reliable when it comes to sending out newsletters in the past.
But fear not, because I am determined to turn over a new leaf and share with you my unbridled passion for all things wild. I'll admit, I have not been the most consistent person, but I am determined to break free from this?tumultuous era of?my life and establish a new pattern. Now?let's not get in a rush, though, and?set any rigid expectations here. In fact, I'm going to ensure that you have no expectations for this at all ... like, seriously.
This is a non-scheduled, no-structure newsletter —?and will go out simply whenever inspiration strikes. So, buckle up and let's head to where the wild things are. Who knows, this might just be the most consistent newsletter you've ever received. Cheers to new beginnings!
?????? In the Wild
Please note this first one is really, really long. (I had some catchin' up to do.)
?? 1. Drunk people are using Uber to help injured wildlife in Texas — and it's saving lives
A Utah man went viral for using Uber to send an injured bird to a local wildlife rehabilitation center while he was drunk.
Surprisingly, this kind of thing happens quite often.Earlier this week, the North Texas Wildlife Center shared some examples online.
"We've had about 25 finders over the past few months utilize the Uber pet options to transport wildlife to us," the organization wrote on Facebook. Read more.
?? 2. 'Zombie' deer killed in the largest chronic wasting disease outbreak in Texas
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department culled Robert Williams' entire herd of 249 white-tailed deer. Williams, a captive deer breeder, has battled the disease for more than two years.
Williams told Outdoor Life Magazine that he pleaded with officials to run the deer through chutes, similar to the method used for cattle. Instead, they shot the deer as they ran back and forth in their pens, resulting in an eight-hour operation that included processing and disposing of the deer.“
They could have mercifully killed them, and I wouldn’t have felt quite as bad about it,” Williams told Magazine. “But they were cruelly slaughtered, and those deer went crazy. They bounced off the fence, ran into each other and broke each other’s legs. They were just so shot up. That’s what burns me.” Read more.
?? 3. Texas leads US for feral hog population. Are they good or bad for the environment?
It's a longstanding debate. Bring together a roomful of conservation scientists, ecologists and farmers, and it's unlikely that any two individuals would hold the exact same opinion.
It's undeniable that feral hogs are bad for the U.S. economy — causing about $2.5 billion a year in damage to crops, managed landscapes and water supplies. But are they actually bad for the environment?
Researcher Erik Lundgren pointed out that feral hogs tend to increase native plant diversity, increase nutrient availability and even facilitate birds.But most experts agree that they contribute a great deal of harm to the environment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates costs from their damage and control at an estimated $2.5 billion annually in the U.S. agricultural sector alone; this does not include damage to waterways, landscaping and personal properties.
They're also a threat to humans with their sharp teeth and tusks and have been confirmed to attack and kill humans. Read more.
?? 4. Woman hits black bear near Kerrville in Hill Country. How common are they in Texas?
While driving along the back roads of Real County on Saturday evening, a Texas woman found herself colliding into a wildly unexpected roadblock: a black bear prowling the highway.
Although they faced a rapid decline over several decades, black bear sightings increased from 25 in 2020 — the majority of which were in Big Bend — to 154 confirmed sightings in Texas in 2022. Read more.
?? 5. Can Texas' venomous snakes, like rattlers and copperheads, climb trees?
It's just a myth that nonvenomous snakes are the only ones that can climb trees.
Yep, you read that right. It's possible that you may look above and see a copperhead, rattlesnake — or even a coral snake — slithering its way up a tree. Or it may already be wrapped around a limb peering down at you.
Venomous snakes, such as the rattlesnake, can and do climb trees — but it isn't commonly observed. Read more.
领英推荐
??? 6. Flying, venomous Joro spider is no concern in Texas, but these 7 critters might scare you
A "giant, flying venomous spider" is making headlines across the nation — and for obvious reasons.
The invasive Joro spiders from Japan will soon make their way to the Northeast after initially invading Georgia in 2021. The spiders' arrival in the U.S. is believed to have occurred unintentionally through transportation by way of cargo shipments, international trade and personal travel, New Jersey Pest Control told USA TODAY.
It's unlikely that the seemingly creepy arachnid with 4-inch legs will reach Texas anytime soon, but other frightening critters already live here. (We should note that none of the creatures is inherently aggressive or mean; they're just territorial about their space and babies and will react defensively if they feel threatened.) Read more.
?? 7. What happens if a rattlesnake bites you? Here's everything you should and shouldn't do
A common sight unfolds: nearby brush rustles, accompanied by a distant hiss. Suddenly, a hoe swings through the air, claiming the life of one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet.
Contrary to belief, rattlesnakes are not inherently aggressive but rather are defensive creatures that react to perceived threats in their environment. Sometimes, that threat is a human. By respecting their presence and taking appropriate precautions, coexistence with these important predators can be achieved. Read more.
?? 8. Please don't eat poison oak. Here are 8 invasive plants in Texas that you can eat instead
A reporter in northern California found himself in a constant battle with the poison oak that was slowly encroaching on his house.
Instead of trying to defeat the pesky shrub that often brings severe itchiness, rashes and swelling with exposure, he decided to consume the plant in an attempt to build immunity against it, The Wall Street Journal reporter wrote.
Although he reported success, most experts recommend against the ingestion of poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac and anything alike — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of potential fatality with consumption.
Try using one of these eight problem plants with your meal instead. (Although, it's important to remember that it's of the utmost importance that all plants and their parts are correctly identified before their consumption!) Read more.
?? 9. Are there more ocelots in Texas than estimated? What to know about the endangered cats
Ocelots have been endangered since 1982, and fewer than 100 remain in the wild, experts say. But new DNA evidence suggests an encouraging possibility that more may be out there.
After studying samples from an ocelot found dead from a motor vehicle along Highway 281 in Hidalgo County in 2021, scientists have determined that the feline was related to breeding populations in South Texas and shared the same DNA as ocelots found in northeast Mexico.
"The results suggest that this cat possibly occupies a region of South Texas not yet known to ocelot researchers," Sharon Wilcox, senior Texas representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said in a news release.
"Hidalgo County may have more ocelots present in its more remote sections where appropriate habitat and access to prey exists." Read more.
???10. West Texas lizard listed as endangered after 42 years
More than 40 years after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initially recognized the need for federal protections for the dunes sagebrush lizard, the agency has finally listed the tiny reptile under the Endangered Species Act.
Found in West Texas and eastern New Mexico, the dunes sagebrush lizard has suffered a population decline largely due to fossil fuel development, sand mining and herbicide spraying from nearby ranching operations.
Although the species was first considered for listing in 2010, advocates have been raising concerns about its precarious situation since 1982, when oil and gas activities began to intensify in the Permian Basin. That led to large swaths of habitat fragmentation and a subsequent significant decline in the lizard's population.
Until the official listing Friday, protections for the species have largely relied on individuals and landowners. Read more.
?? Beyond the Wild
Sign up for the email newsletter here.